Children who learn to cook before the age of eight are 50 per cent more likely
to have a healthy diet later in life, a new study found.

Youngsters that had got to grips in the kitchen before they reach eight years old are likely to prepare as many as five meals from scratch per week later in life, according to research.

The study also found that 50 per cent of British children cannot distuinguish between a cucumber and a courgette, while 24 per cent failed to identify an aubergine, and seven per cent mistook spinach for lettuce.

Only one in 10 children could recognise a leek, and just one in five know what an avacado looked like, according to the study conducted by PizzaExpress in partnership with charity the Children's Food Trust.

British children begin acquiring culinary skills much later than youngsters from around Europe.

Children in countries like France and Germany tend to start experimenting with cooking at the age of seven - two years before those from the UK.